Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,587 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,797 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,007 in Chattanooga, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Chattanooga, TN, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Chattanooga, TN by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.89 $19.89

0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$99.9 $99.9

-11.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.86 $10.86

19.15%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.36 $5.36

3.36%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.35 $2.35

16.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.10 $2.10

12.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.88 $5.88

21.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.58 $7.58

15.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.12 $1.12

19.64%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.72 $3.72

12.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.04 $4.04

41.83%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.41 $4.41

10.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$14.09 $14.09

4.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.97 $14.97

-0.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.32 $13.32

47.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.60 $6.60

-15.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.65 $1.65

16.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.42 $4.42

-5.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.15 $4.15

17.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.78 $2.78

2.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.62 $3.62

-22.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.69 $2.69

-18.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.79 $2.79

9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$8.59 $8.59

88.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$17.72 $17.72

-16.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.24 $3.24

3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.97 $1.97

29.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$49.77 $49.77

51.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.96 $4.96

-33.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.98 $1.98

-31.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$30.43 $30.43

-17.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.92 $0.92

27.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.5K $37.5K

-4.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.65%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$191 $191

$159 $159

19.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$83.1 $83.1

-18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$76.0 $76.0

-18.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$40.04 $40.04

58.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$3.95 $3.95

587.09%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.17 $15.17

18.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,522 $1,522

$1,068 $1,068

42.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

27.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$42.12 $42.12

51.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$37.64 $37.64

46.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$96.4 $96.4

4.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$120 $120

28.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,701 $1,701

41.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,268 $1,268

30.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,197 $3,197

43.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,976 $1,976

40.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,296 $2,296

75.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,247 $2,247

22.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,879 $3,879

23.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,701 in Chattanooga, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $100 in Chattanooga, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $432 in Chattanooga, TN – so Chattanooga, TN wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Chattanooga, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Chattanooga, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,880 in Chattanooga, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chattanooga, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,587 in Chattanooga, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Chattanooga, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,587 in Chattanooga, TN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chattanooga, TN costs $2,587 versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chattanooga, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.